I wrestled in high school and college and, like most wrestlers, thought I worked hard. We worked out in an air conditioned gym with weights, mats, and safety equipment. In Varansi, wrestlers embrace a whole new level of toughness. There is no gym, no mat, and definitely no safety equipment.

The "wrestling mat" is a 30 foot square patch of dirt that is hoed up before every practice session to make it soft - soft being an entirely relative term. As other wrestlers look on, two extremely fit young men will battle it out in the field. Occasionally they will stop to cover themselves in dirt. The dirt both cools them down and reduces the slipperiness of their sweat in the 110 degree heat.

At the end of practice, there are no hot showers. The wrestlers wash off using water from a hand pump near the wrestling field. The work ethic and dedication of these wrestlers is truly amazing.